Is Your Garage Ready for Winter?

Garages can be wonderfully convenient during a Chicago winter. When your car is parked inside, you do not have to worry about scraping ice off your windshield every day or digging snow out from around your tires. It is easier to start driving when at least the first foot or two are on concrete before you hit snow. Just as you might winterize your car, like by putting snow tires on it, you should also make sure your garage is ready for winter. If getting your garage prepared to withstand a snowstorm is going to be a big job, an experienced Chicago, IL garage renovation company can help.

Weatherproof the Doors

If your garage is attached to your house, you should make sure the interior door is well-insulated. Unless your garage is heated, it can get very cold during the winter. You will want to make sure the cold air is not getting into your house and driving up your heating bills.

You should also make sure that the car doors are weatherproofed. Flood vents can help with rain in the warmer months but will not protect against snow very well. You might want to consider making sure the car doors are fully sealed instead.

Keep the Car Doors From Getting Stuck

Perhaps the one downside of parking in a garage during the winter is that your car might get stuck if the doors freeze shut. You will need a plan for getting your car out if this happens. Installing a heater in your garage can prevent the door from freezing shut. However, it is important to follow space heater safety rules. Lubricating the moving parts frequently can also keep things working in cold temperatures. Waxing or replacing the weatherstripping may keep ice from sticking. During the winter, periodically opening and closing the doors can help to prevent freezing.

Add Insulation

One of the best ways to winterize your garage is to add insulation. Insulation can help keep the ambient temperature inside your garage warmer, allowing for more year-round usage. This is especially helpful if you use your garage as a space for working on projects instead of just as a place to park your car.

Use a Weatherproof Coating

A weatherproof coating can be added to the outside of your garage and to the floor. This helps prevent damage from snow melting and protects the entire structure during major storms.

Contact a Chicago, IL Garage Renovation Expert

Blue Sky Builders, Inc. can help you renovate your garage and get it ready for winter. Our Cook County, IL garage-renovating experts have been in the business for 45 years. Contact us at 630-852-8485 for a free, on-site estimate.